About Qutub Minar
The Qutub Minar located in Delhi is the world’s tallest brick minaret, standing at a height of 72.5 meters. Commissioned by Delhi’s first Muslim ruler, Qutb-ud-din Aibak in 1193, Qutub Minar then had only a basement. Three more towers were added to the structure by his successor and son-in-law Shamsu'd-din Iltutmish. The Qutub Minar is known to be the earliest and most evident example of Indo-Islamic architecture and is surrounded by several other ancient structures collectively known as the Qutub Complex.
Image source : www.qutubminar.org.in
Qutub Minar Architecture
The Qutub Minar is constructed out of red and buff sandstone and is the tallest minaret in India with a diameter of 14.32m at the base and about 2.75 meters on the top. All stories of the minaret are surrounded by a balcony supported by stone brackets adorned with a honeycomb design, most prominent on the first floor.
Qutub-ud-din Aibak was inspired by the Minaret of Jam in Afghanistan and aspired to build a minaret taller than it and commenced construction of the tower in 1193; but Aibak was only able to complete its basement. His successor Shamsu'd-Din Iltutmish added three more stories to it and in 1368 Firuz Shah Tughluq added the fifth and last storey. The tower took a total of 20 years to be completed.
The gradual change in the architectural style from Aibak to Tughluq is evidently visible in the Qutub Minar. Like previous towers constructed by the Ghaznavids and Armaan in Afghanistan. The tower comprises of several superposed cylindrical shafts, separated by balconies. The minaret is constructed using red sandstone and is covered with beautiful carvings and verses from the Quran. There are many inscriptions in Arabic that give us insight into the history of the Qutub Minar.
Qutub Minar Attractions
Qutub Complex
Qutub Complex includes Qutub Minar and other pieces of architecture in the vicinity of Qutub Minar. These include:
Iron Pillar
The Iron Pillar in the Qutub Complex stands 7 meters high and is known for the composition of metals used in its construction. This pillar weighs more than 6 tonnes and is believed to have been constructed in the time of Chandragupta Vikramaditya. The iron pillar initially stood in the complex of the Jain Temple where there were twenty seven temples which were destroyed by Qutub- ud-din Aibak, the materials of which were used to construct the Qutub Minar and Quwwat-Ul-Islam Mosque. The pillar is believed to be constructed out of 98% pure wrought iron and is proof of the skill of ancient blacksmiths. The reason the iron pillar has attracted so much attention from around India and the world is because this pillar has withstood corrosion for the last 1600 years in open air.
Alai Minar
The construction of the Alai Minar was begun by Allaudin Khilji, the second ruler of the Turko-Afghan Khilji dynasty in India. Khilji started the construction of this tower after he had doubled the size of the Quwwat ul-Islam mosque. He wanted to build a tower two times higher than the Qutub Minar in proportion with the enlarged mosque. The construction of this tower was abandoned after the death of Allaudin Khilji and was never taken up by his successors of the Khilji Dynasty, and the remains of the Alai Minar today stand 24.5 meters high.
Alai Gate
The Alai Gate or the Alai Darwaza as it is also known as is the only remaining gate added to the Qutub Comlex by Allaudin Khilji. Located at the south-eastern end of the complex, the extravagant design of the gate suggests that this gate may have been used as an entrance to the city from the Qutub Minar.
Tomb of Shamsu'd-Din Iltutmish
The tomb of the second ruler of Delhi, Iltutmish was constructed within the Qutub Minar Complex in 1235 AD. The central chamber of the tomb is a 9 meter square and the main cenotaph constructed out of white marble is placed upon a raised platform in the middle of the chamber. The entrance of the tomb is known for its elaborate design and the interior walls are a beautiful amalgamation of Hindu and Islamic architecture.
Tomb of Imam Zamin
The tomb of Imam Zamin is located near the Alai Darwaza. As per inscriptions on the eastern entrance of the tomb Imam Zamin was a saint from Turkestan who settled in Delhi during the rule of Sikander Lodi. This tomb was built by Zamin during his lifetime and after his death he was buried here.
Tomb of Allaudin Khilji
At the back of the Qutub Complex stands an L-shape construction which contains the grave of Allaudin Khilji dating back to 1316AD. Also in the vicinity to the tomb is a Madrasa (Islamic Seminary) built by him.
Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque
This Mosque that means “Might of Islam” was built by Qutub-ud-din-Aibak the founder of the slave dynasty. This was the first mosque built in India after the conquest of Islam in India and is the oldest surviving example of Ghurids architecture in the Indian subcontinent. According to Persian inscriptions on the mosque, the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque was built from the parts taken from the destruction of twenty seven Jain temples in the vicinity that were constructed by Prithvi Raj Chauhan and the Tomars.
Qutub Festival
The Qutub Festival is held in November/December and is a showcase of Indian cultural art forms and classical structures gaining for India national and international attention. This cultural event is set against the rugged backdrop of the time weathered Qutub Minar and has witnessed performances by veterans of Indian Classical and Folk dance and music. The Qutub Festival is a joint effort of the Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation and the Sahitya Kala Parishad. Regional food stalls at the festival serve local Delhi as well as cuisine from across the country like Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and North Eastern states. The festival has been graced by the performances of noted Kuchipudi, Odisi and Manipuri classical dancers such as Sonal Mansingh, and Ghazal and sitar recitals by Ustad Mohammad Hussein and Ustad Ahmad Hussain. Santoor players like Bhajan Sepori and Guru R.K Singhajit have also performed at this popular festival. The Qutub festival is an attempt to preserve the rich tradition of Indian dance and music, contemporary as well as classical. This festival which is an exotic experience and cultural extravaganza of Indian heritage is a must attend.
Entrance Fee: For citizens of India and visitors from SAARC countries (Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Afghanistan) and BIMSTEC countries (Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar) the entry fee is Rs. 10. For visitors from other countries the fee is USD 5 or Rs. 250). Children up to the age of 15 can enter free.
Attractions around the Qutub Minar
There are many other interesting areas that one can explore around the Qutub Minar. The Chattarpur Mandir, located just 4 km from the Qutub Minar in the Mehrauli locality is famous for its beautiful structure and architecture. Apart from that there are many new, to end malls that have opened up in Vasant Kunj, which is again 4 km away from the Qutub Minar and where one can enjoy shopping along with a relaxed meal at one of the many restaurants.
Last updated on: 8/2/2013
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